Safety device



Jan. 22, 1935. A. c. BRILL SAFETY DEVICE Filed Jan. 9, 1933 plicationfiledin member has reached looking or latching position to hold theguard in operative or protective position with respect to the spacebetween the platens.-

The guard, as herein disclosed, is particularly with hydraulicpresses ofthe type wherein the direction of move-.

advantageous in connectionment of the movable platen may be reversed atwill by the operator at any point in the upward or in the downwardmovement of said movable platen, without the necessity of returning themovable platen to its respect to the other platen which is its normalworkflreceiving position. The purpose of such incomplete up and downmovements platen is, to release thereof toa new position application ofpressure. To accomplish these movements of the platen the starting meansis moved through a restricted path, at no time far enough in onedirection to effectlocking of the starting means in its inoperativeposition nor release of the guard. Hence the illustrated guard will bemaintained in its locked relation to the movable platen of suchhydraulic press during repeated up and down movements of the movableplaten and will only be released when the movable platen has returned toits normal work receiving position. I I

These and other important features of the invention and novelcombinations of parts will now be described in detail and then pointedout more particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a press with the wireguard in inoperative position andthe lower platen at rest in workreceivingposition; and Fig.2 is a horizontal sectionon the line II--IIof Fig. 1 looking downwardly. In the illustrated machine, designedparticularly toiperform smooth-plating and embossing operations uponpieces of leather, there is provided a O-shaped standard 4 whichcarri'esat the top a stationary plate or platen 6 adapted to be heated in theusual manner. Below platen 6 is arranged a hydraulic cylinder 8 inwhich'is movably mounted a ram 12. On the ram rests alower press plateor platen l4 surrounded by an obliquely sloping wooden table 16. Uponthe hydraulic cylinder 18 at the front of the machine there is mountedavalve block 18, which also contains a control valve 26, arranged to beoperated by means of spur ratio gears 22 and a lever 24.manuallyoperable by the operator in initiating and terminating pressure applyingoperations. For a more complete disclosure of a press of the typeillustrated herein reference may. be had to United States Letters PatentNo. 1,932,556, granted October 31, 1933, upon an apthe name of Paul V.J. Merenda. wireguard 26 which, in the construction shown, isarranged tocover the dangerous space between the platens 6 and 14 at the front ofthe machine and at both sides. Two bell-crank levers 28 mounted on theupper platen 6 carry the front portion of the wire guard 26, its, rearportion being pivotally supported on two other bell crank levers 30keyed to a shaft 32 passing across the back'of the machine. The frontand rear bell crank levers on .each side are joined by a draw bar 34, sothat pressure exerted fromabove at any point on thewire'guard 26 efiectsa lowering The new safety device comprises a of the guard buckle 38,having at fully spaced relation with of the lower.

working position,

without angular displacement thereof. To a third arm of the bellcranklever 30, as shown in Fig. 1, is pivoted a connecting rod 36, witha turnits other end a pivotal connection with a double-armed lever 40.One end of the lever 40 is pivotally connected with a sleeve 42adapted'to'slidealong a vertically arranged rod 44. Since the rod 44 hasa slight rocking movementin performing its other function in the press,thelever. 40 has a pin and slot connection with the sleeve 42. Thissleeve 42 serves as a stop for co-operation with a latch 46 pivotallymounted on the lower platen 14 and movably connected by a link 48 withthe lever 24. In all positions but one the sleeve or stop 42 holds thelatch 46 to the'right of the rod 44 in Fig.1 and thus holds the startinglever 24 in inoperative position. Hence operation of the control lever24 is controlled by the position of the latch member 46, it'beingunderstood that the lever 24 is the starting and stopping lever of theillustrated hydraulic press. In the full line position shown in Fig. l,the sleeve 42 prevents movement of the latch'46 toward the front of themachine and thus prevents movement of the control lever 24 from itsinoperative position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. However, when thesleeve or stop 42 is moved to dotted line position by completedepression of the guard 26, the latch 46 is released by the stop'42 andthe lever 24 may be moved toward the front of the machine to start thepress in operation.

' The leverage of the system of levers (40, 36, 30, 34", 28) ispreferably so chosen that the wire guard 26' moves upwardly with exactlythe same speed as" theram 12. By means of the turnbuckle 38 interposedin the connecting rod' 36 it is possible ,toadjust the wire guard 26 insuch a way that in the working position it stands a few millimetres onlyabove the table 16, i. e; at such a short distance above thelatter thatit is impossible to place the hand underneath it, but, on the otherhand, so far away from it that the leather cannot be damaged by thepressure of the wire guard 26. S'o-long as the guard is maintainedinoperative or protective position with respect to the space between theplatens 6 and 14, the ram 12 may be raised and lowered as often asdesired by manipulating the control lever 24. The arrangement is such,however, that the dangerous space between the platens 6 and 14, mustremain enclosed at all times. A counterweight 52 at one end of the lever40 takes care that the wire guard '26 ascends automatically as soon asthe latch 46 releases the sleeve 42, the latter then sliding upwardsalong the rod 44. Furthermore, counterweight 52 keeps the sleeve 42against the lower end of latch 46 when the latter is in its operativeposition. Hence the sleeve 42 moves upwardly with the latch 46 as thelower platen 14 moves upwardly, upward movement of the latch beingaccompanied by upward movement of the guard 26 in its spaced relation toplaten 14. The safety device functions in the following manner. When thecontrol lever 24 is in the full is held in raised position by theweighted lever 40 and the operator can put both hands into the spacebetween the platens 6 and 14, in order to place a piece of leather uponthe lower-press plate 14 and to smooth it down. Accidental contact withthe control lever 24 cannot turn it into because when the wire guard 26is raised the sleeve 42 is carried upwards to a position where itprevents forward motion of the 'igesamv "tion and being mountedfor'movement with-the 'movable platenwhile maintaining its protectivelatch member 46 and'hence ofthe control'lever '24 connected thereto.Only when the operator presses the guard 26 fully downwith his left hand"is he able to'o'perate the controllever 24 with his right hand, becausethe sleeve 42 is then inpositionto permit movement of latch member 46 tothe left as indicated in broken lines in Fig.1. On turning the controllever 24 fully to the left in'Fig. 1 to initiate a pressure applyingopera-- tion, the latch 46 is drawn so far forward by the link 48 thatlatch46 is positioned above the sleeve 42 and thus locks the guard 26against separating movement relative to the lower platen 14 while itparticipates in the ascent of the platen, on which the latch 46 ispivotally mounted. During the up-a'nd down movements of the sleeve 42,due

to the weighted lever 40 and to the latch 46, the

' 'wire guard 26 is caused to move up and down simultaneously with thelower press platen 14, while slightly spaced parallel reand it will onlybe released being 'maintained in lation to said platen,

"again when the operator forces the control lever 24 back into itsextreme position of rest at the right in 1 in which the sleeve 42 isreleased by the'latch 46 so that both sleeve 42 and guard 26 may bemoved upwardly by the weighted lever "40. In other words, the lowerplaten 14 may be caused to make incomplete up and down movements topermit repeated shifting of the work on the lower platen betweenpressure applying operations. To accomplish this result, the controllever 24 is moved only part way to solid-line position from itsdotted-line position and then back to dotted-line position. Suchmovement of the control lever does not release the guard 26. Movement ofthe lever 24 to solid-line-position will efiect return of the lowerplaten 14 to work receiving position and also release of the guard 26which at once moves to its inoperative or nonprotective position. Thismeans that the stop 42 is released by latch 46. Movement of the stopsleeve 42 upwardly on the rod 44 brings it quickly to a position whereit will arrest sidewise movement of the latch 46 and thereby holds thestartinglever- 24 in inoperative position.

'In case the press is being served by two workers and a hand ofeither'worker is still in. the

dangerous space between the platens when the operator at the controllever 24 attempts to force down the wire guard 26 and to start themachine in operation, it will be found that the control lever 24 cannotbe moved into the position in which the hydraulic pressure becomesoperative, because the hand between the wire guard 26 and the platen 14or table 16 prevents a complete downward -movement of the guard. Hencethe sleeve 42 cannot movesufficiently far in a downward direction ontherod'44 to release starting the lever 24, until the hand is removedfrom its dangerous position.

As already pointed out the embodiment described and shown in theaccompanying drawing is merely an example for the construction of themachine, and alterations and modifications are possible withoutdeparting from the scope of the following claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a'press having two platens one of which is movable with respect tothe other to efiect pressure applying operations, a guard movablebetween operative and inoperative positionswith respect to said platens,said guard being of a size to cover, when in operative position,the'entire space between the platensat rest in open posiand meansmovable with the movable platen of thepress to lock the guard inoperative or'protective position during-movement of the movable platenin apressure applying operation.

3. In a press having twoplatensone of which is movable with respect tothe other to eifect'p'ressure applying operations, a guard movable be.-tween operative and inoperative positions with respect to said platens,and a latch member mounted on the movable platen of the press andarranged to lock-the guard inoperative or protective position duringmovement of the movable platen in a pressure applying operation.

4. In a press having two platens one of which 'is movable with respectto the'other to effect pressure applying operations, a guardmovablebetween operative and inoperative positions with respect to thespace between said platens, anda latch member arranged to lock the guardin its operative or protective position,'said guard and said" latchbeing; both bodily movable with the movable platen so that said guardismaintained in its protective-relation to the movableplaten during'apressure applying operation.

7 5. In a press having two platens, one of which is movable with'respectto the other to effect pressure applying operations, a guard movablebetwenoperative and inoperative positions with "respect to the spacebetween said platens, and a latch member arranged to lock the guard inoperative'or protective position with respect to the member being bodilymovable with the movable platen during the-closing of the press topermit movement of the guard at the same rate asthe closing movement ofthe press while maintaining the guard locked in its operative orprotective relation to said platens.

6. In a press having two platens one of which is movable with respect tothe other to sheet pressure applying operations, a guard movable betweenoperative and inoperative positions with respect'to the space betweensaid platens, a latch member, and a stop member connected to the guardand arranged to be moved to a position to co-operate with the latchmember to lock the guard in its operative or protective-position, saidlatch'member and said stop member being movablewith respect to press andat a rate the same 'ing movement of the press to maintain said guard oneof the platens of the as that of the closin locked condition during theclosing of the press.

7. In a press having two platens one of which is movable with respect tothe other to effect pressure applying operations, a guard movablebetween operative and inoperative positions with respect to saidplatens, means arranged tolocate the guard, when in operative position,in spaced relation'to a piece of work on the lower platen of the press,a latch member arranged to lock the guard in its operative or protectiveposition, said 2 space between the platens of the press, said latch ice4- latch member being movable with respect to one of the platens of thepress and at a rate the same as that of the closing movement of thepress, and means to move the guard with the latch member so that saidguard is maintained in locked condition and in the desired spacedrelation to the work during the closing of the press.

8. Ina press having two platens one of which is movable with respect tothe other to effect pressure applying operations, a guard movablebetween operative and inoperative positions with respect to said platen,means arranged to locate the guard, when in operative position, inspaced relation to 'a piece of work on the lower platen of the press, alatch member, a stop member connected to the guard and arranged to bemoved to a position to co-operate'with the latch member to lock theguard in its operative or protective position, said latch member beingmovable with respect to one of the platens of the press and at a ratethe same as that of the closing movement of the press, and means to movethe guardwith the latch member so that said guard is maintained inlocked condition and in the desired spaced relation to the work duringthe closing of the press.

9. In a press having two platens the lower of which is movable withrespect to the other to effect pressure applying operations, a guardmovable betweenoperative and inoperative positions with respect to thespace betweensaid platens, a latch member movable with the movable,lower platen and operative to lock the guard against separatingmovement with respect'to said lower platen, and means arranged tosupport the guard and to cause it to move with said movable platenduring upward movement of the latter, whereby the guard is maintained inprotective position during movement of the movable platen toward andfrom the other platen. r

10. In a press having two platens the lower of which is movable withrespect to the other to effect pressure applying operations, a guardmovable between operative and inoperative positions with respect to thespace between said platens, a latch member bodily movable with themovable lower platen and operative to lock the guard against separatingmovement with respect to said lower platen, and a weighted leverarranged to support the guard and to cause it to move with said movableplaten during upward movement of the latter, whereby the guard ismaintained in protective position during movement of the movable platentoward and from the other platen.

11. In a press having two platens one of which is'movable with respectto the other to effect pressure applying operations, a guard movablebetween operative and inoperative positions with respect to saidplatens, means movable with the movable platen to lock the guard in itsoperative position, a starting mechanism for the press comprising amanually operable member, and a connection between said manuallyoperable member and the locking means arranged to move the latterselectively to operative position to lock guard in its protectiveposition and to inoperative position to release said guard.

12. In a press having an upper platen and a lower platen movableupwardly to effect pressureapplying operations upon pieces of worksupported by the lower platen, a guardmovable between operative andinoperative positions with respect to the space between the platens, thework upon the lower platen being supported in such manner as to bedirectly in line with the movable guard, means arranged to locate theguard, when piece of work respect the position, in spaced relation tothe on the lower platen, and means to cause the guard to travel upwardlywith the lower platen while maintaining such spaced relation inoperative thereto whereby the guard is maintained in its operativerelation during upward movement of the lower platen.

13. In a press having an upper platen and a lower platen movableupwardly to effect pressure applying operations, a safety devicecomprising a guard movable between operative and inoperative positionswith respect to the space between the platens, means arranged to locatethe guard, when in operative position, in spaced relation to a piece ofwork on the lower platen of the'press, a starting mechanism for thepress, connections between the guard and the starting mechanism arrangedto lock the guard in its operative position, and means arranged to causethe guard to travel upwardly with the lower platen while maintainingsaid spaced relation thereto whereby the guard is maintained in itsoperative position during upward movement or the lower platen.

14. In a press having platens relatively movable with respect to eachother to efiect pressure applying operations, a guard movable betweenoperative and inoperative positions with respect to the space betweensaidplatens, a member connected to said guard and guided for verticalmovement during movement of the guard, a latch member movable to aposition vertically over said member to lock the latter against verticalmovement thereby to lock the guard in its operative position,starting-mechanism for the press comprising aimanually operable member,and a connection between,v said manually operable member and the latchmember arranged to hold said manually operable member so that the lattercannot be moved while the guard is out of protective or operativeposition. I

15. In a. press having an upper platen and a lower platen movableupwardly with respect to the upper platen to effect pressure applyingoperations, a guard movable between operative and inoperative positionswith respect to the space between said platens, a latch member mountedon the movable lower platen and arranged to lock the guard in itsoperative position, starting mechanism for the press comprising amanually operable member, and a connection between said manuallyoperable member and the latch member arranged to 'hold said manuallyoperable member against operation while the guard is out of protectiveor operative position.

16. In a press having two platens one of which is movable with respectto the other to effect pressure applying operations, a guard movablebetween operative and inoperative positions with to said platens, astarting mechanism for the press comprising a manually operable member,a latch member movable into position to lock the guard in its operativeposition, and a connection between the latch member and said manablewith respect to each other to effect pressure applying operations, aguard movable between operative and inoperative positions with respectto said platens, a starting mechanism for the press comprising amanually operable member, a latch member, a stop member connected to theguard and arranged for cooperation with the latch member in holding theguard in operative position, said stop member being also operative tohold the latch member in-unlatching position While the guard is ininoperative position, and a connecting member between the latch memberand said manually operable member to hold the latter in its inoperativeposition whereby the manually operable member cannot be operated toinitiate operation of the machine while the guard is in inoperativeposition.

18. In a press having two platens one of which is movable with respectto the other to effect pressure applying operations, a guard movablebetween operative and inoperative positions with respect to saidplatens, a stop member connected to the guard, a starting mechanism forthe press comprising a manually operable member, a latch member arrangedto co-operate with the stop member to lock the guard in its protectiveor operative position, and a connection between said manually operablemember and said latch member for moving the latter selectively tolatching or unlatching position with respect to said stop member, saidlatching member being movable to permit the guard to move with themovable platen during the closing of the press while maintaining saidguard in its locked relation during said closing of the press.

19. In a press having platens relatively movable with respect to eachother to eiTect pressure applying operations, a guard movable betweenoperative and inoperative positions with respect to the space betweensaid platens, a stop member connected to said guard, said stop memberbeing movable upwardly and downwardly with the movement of the guard, alatch member movable into position above the stop member when the guardis down in its protective or operative position whereby the stop memberand latch member co-operate to lock the guard in its protectiveposition, means to move said latch member vertically at the same rate asthat of the closing of the press, and means to cause the stop member tomove with the latch member whereby the guard is caused to movevertically during the closing of the press while maintaining itsprotective relation with respect to the space between the platens of thepress.

20. In a press having two platens one of which is movable with respectto the other to eiTect pressure applying operations, a guard movablebetween operative and inoperative positions with respect to saidplatens, a stop member connected to the guard, a latch member forco-operation with the stop member in holding the guard in lockedrelation to the space between the platens of the press, and meansarrangedto hold the stop member in contact with the latch member, said.

latch member being mounted on the movable platen of the press and saidlast-mentioned means being operative to move the guard upwardly with theupward movement of said movable platen whereby the guard, while movingupwardly, is maintained in the desired spaced relation with respect tosaid movable platen through the cooperation of the latch member and thestop member.

21. In apress having two platens one of which is movable with respect tothe other to efiect pressure applying operations, wherein hydraulicmeans is provided for causing approaching and retracting movements ofthe platens with respect to each other at the will of the operator, aguard movable between operative and inoperative positions with respectto the space between said platens, a latch member bodily movable withthe movable platen and operative to lock the guard against separatingmovement with respect to said movable platen, and means to cause theguard to move with said movable platen during movement of the latter toeffect a pressure applying operation, whereby the guard is maintained inprotective position during repeated movements of the movable platentoward and from the other platen in the intervals of its return tonormal work receiving position.

22. In a press having a stationary and a movable platen, whereinhydraulic means is provided for causing relative movements of approachand also of retraction of the platens with respect to each other in anorganization wherein the movements of the movable platen may be reversedat will by the operator in the intervals of the return of said movableplaten to its fully spaced relation to the other platen, a guard movablebetween operative and inoperative positions with respect to the spacebetween said platens, a latch member mounted on the movable platen andoperative to lock theguard against separating movement with respect tosaid movable platen, and means comprising a member connected to theguard and co-operating with the latch member to cause the guard totravel in one direction with the movable platen, the latch member beingarranged to cause the guard to movein the other direction with themovable platen, whereby the guard is maintained in protective relation.to the space between said platens during both up and down movements ofthe platens with respect to each other.

23. In a press having an upper platen, a lower platen movable upwardlyinto co-operative relation to the upper platen to eiTect pressureapplying operations, hydraulic means for causing relative movements ofapproach and also of retraction of the platens with respect to eachother in an organization comprising a manually operable member forcontrolling said hydraulic means whereby movement of the lower platenmay be reversed at will by the operator without the return of said lowerplaten to its normal work receiving position, the combination of a guardmovable between operative and inoperative positions with respect to thespace between said platens, a latch member mounted on the movable lowerplaten and operative to lock the guard against separating movement withrespect to said lower platen, a connection between the manually operablemember and the latch member arranged to hold the latch member inguardlocking position while the manually operable member is in positionto cause up and down movements of the lower platen without returning thelower platen to work receiving position, and a weighted member connectedto the guard and co-operating with the latch member to cause the guardto travel upwardly with the movable lower platen, the latch membercausing the guard to move downwardly with the movable lower platen,whereby the guard is maintained in protective relation to the spacebetween said platens during both up and down movements of the platenswith respect to each other;

AUGUST C. BRILL.

